Poor finishing

by Mike Haymonds (16 October 2009)

EHL Premier
Slough 1 Olton & West Warwicks 1

SLOUGH Ladies were let down by their finishing and this draw, which must count as two points lost rather than a point won, dropped them two places to fifth.

Eight penalty corners from which they never really troubled the Olton goalkeeper, plus several good open play chances squandered, contributed to a below-par performance against opponents who were restricted by injuries to only one substitute.

Slough skipper Fiona Greenham said: “I’m very disappointed as we should have won comfortably."

“We were better than they were but failed to put away our chances."

“We forced play down the middle too much and need to work on our movement in the D.”

Slough’s first half control was so complete that Olton did not manage a single shot on goal.

Two early penalty corners for Slough brought no reward with Ashleigh Ball’s strike at the second failing to trouble the visitors’ keeper Mags Rees and two later corners were also unsuccessful.

After 31 minutes the deadlock was broken when Jane Smith was dispossessed by Emma McCabe but Lauren Penny seized on the loose ball and fired home.

Having absorbed Slough’s pressure, Olton were a changed side after the break and equalised in the 38th minute with a direct strike by Rachel Walker at their first corner.

Alex Scott was off target after a dribble through the D and was then thwarted by a glove save by Rees.

Slough keeper Duggan made a spectacular double save to keep Slough in the game before they staged a late rally.

A Smith corner strike was deflected away by an outrushing defender before their eighth and last set piece clipped a post.

Smith was again denied when Rees stretched to clear a deflected effort and the game ended with a final glaring miss which summed up Slough’s day.

Louise Bevan completed a determined run with a pull-back to Nicola White who blazed her shot over the bar.

SLOUGH: Duggan, Cunningham, Harte, Coulson, Bell, Scott, Greenham, Ball, Penny, White, Bevan. Subs: Nicholson, J Smith, Shanahan, Lubbock. Not used: Filochowski.

Copy for Slough Observer & Slough Express 16/10/09